GETTING UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THE NORTHERN LIGHTS IN THE STUNNING LAPLAND LANDSCAPE OF FINLAND

Finland conjures of breathtaking images of snow, magical skies, reindeers, and winter wonderlands.

- Dhiram Shah

Truth is, there is much more to this fairy tale land than these, if you time your holiday right, with enough time set aside in your itinerary. The northern lights, the arctic circle, the four fabulous seasons, the peaceful marriage with nature and the exquisite local cuisines are just some more reasons why this north European country is considered the "happiest country in the world".

One of the world's northernmost countries, Finland is as charming as it is remote. Did you know that there are more than 56,000 lakes here, a geographical blessing that has helped several livelihoods such as agriculture, forestry, and fishing communities. Lapland is also sparsely populated, with only three per cent of the country's population, living there.

While all this may sound exotic and amusing, what took my heart away was the official hometown of Santa Claus - Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland, the homeland of the region's indigenous Sami people.

And while it may sound a bit doubtful, let me assure you that in 72 hours you can get teleported to an era of absolute winter magic.

DAY 1

OUR JOURNEY began in Helsinki 90-minute scenic flight bought us to Rovaniemi. We checked into the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel. The USP is that it is located on a forested hillside offering great views of the northern lights. More efficiently, though, the hotel is located just 10 minutes from the airport and the rail terminus, so connectivity into and around the city was effortless.